Assessing the effectiveness of nonablative laser rejuvenation, usinghigh frequency ultrasound imaging

In this paper a noninvasive quantitative assessment tool has been developed for studying the effectiveness of nonablative Pulsed Dye laser rejuvenation, using high frequency ultrasound imaging. Using the proposed method, and by monitoring the region of interest before and after rejuvenation, changes in tissue conditions as a result of skin rejuvenation can be investigated. High frequency ultrasound scans were obtained from 30 patients undergoing Pulsed Dye laser skin rejuvenation. Two markers were extracted from the obtained images, exploiting image processing techniques. A combinational score was developed based on the extracted markers for quantitative analysis of high frequency ultrasound images. The extracted markers illustrated meaningful changes through skin rejuvenation phases. They were also able to discriminate before and after images properly (p<0.05). The combinational score was able to detect before and after images in 87% of cases. The introduced noninvasive and quantitative approach may be used for assessment of tissue rejuvenation after nonablative laser treatments. The proposed measure is a good candidate for studying collagen regeneration as a result of tissue rejuvenation.